MATCH REPORT V DRAGONS SELECT

Posted:

23/01/2017 - 08:07

Bedford Blues British & Irish Cup campaign fizzled out on Saturday afternoon as Mike Rayer's men went down 15-12 to the Newport Gwent Dragons Premiership Select XV.

A disruptive afternoon saw the game being shifted from The Bridge Field at Bedwas to the Dragons' Ystrad Mynach training ground due to the pitch being still frozen in places and not safe to play. The kick off at the new ground was delayed to 4.30pm with the Blues travelling from 6:30am.

A chilly evening in the Welsh valleys saw the youthful Dragons outfit starting well and they went 5-0 up when hooker Ellis Shipp was driven over the whitewash from close range off the back of a rolling maul. Outside-half Arwel Robson extended the lead with a well taken penalty.

Bedford sprung into life before half-time and a superb break set up Pat Tapley to cross the line, but the extras went begging.

It remained a tight contest, but neither side could add points before the interval.

The Blues started the second half brightly and another good team move was rounded off by Dean Adamson with the conversion making it 8-12.

But within three minutes the hosts were ahead once again as flanker James Thomas found a way over the line and Robson chipped over the conversion.

With half an hour remaining many would have bet on further scores, but both teams cancelled one another out and the Dragons dug deep to cling on to the 15-12 victory.